CLOSER TO THE COLONIES QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 145, 15 March 1939, Page 8

CLOSER TO THE COLONIES QUESTION

Reports from London and Berlin indicate that the colonies question is looming closer. Herr Hitler is said to be making definite plans tb regain, “apparently by peaceful means,” the territories which Germany lost after the Great War, and an impression is growing that a joint diplomatic campaign for colonial expansion is being prepared by Germany and Italy. This last may be true, but it is well to remember that, so far, there has been no proof of collaboration. It is simply a plausible theory, to which the name of Poland has been added as a result of the recent visit to Warsaw by the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano. If intimidation were intended, it might suit Germany and Italy to press their claims simultaneously, but the claims themselves have little in common. Germany is pursuing a policy which was active in the Chancellor’s mind long before lie rose to power. Signor Mussolini’s ideas in respect of colonies have been those of an opportunist and an imitator. Of the two sets of claims, those of Germany are much the more real and substantial, quite apart from their direct concern to Great Britain. In the Treaty of Versailles, Germany lost her entire colonial empire, which is now divided among Britain, France, Belgium, Japan, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The various territories arc as follows;— Colony. Administration. Area in square miles. Tanganyika Britain Ruanda and Urundi Belgium .iJr’-nn South-West Africa Union of South Africa Cameroons France and Britain iJO.OuV Togoland France and Britain 1,110,090 New Guinea Australia 550,000 Pacific Islands north of Equator Japan ~’,.,1 Samoa New Zealand _,boo There are four important reasons why Germany seeks the return of her lost colonies. First, the colonies are of strategic importance. This applies particularly to the African territories and to New Guinea. Secondly, they are of considerable economic value to a nation which is short in many of the materials they would be able to supply, langanyika, Ruanda, the Cameroons, and the rest of the African colonies produce palm oil, sisal, cotton, coffee, gold and precious stones, rubber, cocoa and butter, and are capable of much fuller and more profitable development than has taken place up to date. 1 liirdly, the colonies would provide a needed outlet for Germany’s expanding population and surplus productive energies. As Dr. Robert Ley, leader of the Nazi Labour Front, emphasized in an address at Munich this week, the Germans are a cramped nation. Despite all our efforts (he said) a nation us cramped as we are is hound to fall a victim to Marxist teachings, even with the best social institutions. Forty million Englishmen rule 470,090,000 people. We are at least as good as the English, and fate should give us the same task. If Germany were to receive all her colonies back she would rule fewer than 12,000,000 native peoples, but doubtless this would be sufficient to restore her empire prestige, the desire for which constitutes the fourth reason for her claims. The judgment of Versailles that Germany was unfit to possess colonies, and incapable of administet ing them humanely or progressively, was deeply galling to her pride. It is generally believed that the Camcroons and Tanganyika will be placed in the forefront of Germany's claims, the first because of its rich potential future, and the second for strategic reasons, and in view of the presence of a comparatively large number of German settler-nationals. Such speculation, however, is premature. Ihe fundamental question is that of the admissability of the claims in principle. Italy’s claims, by contrast with those of the Reich, are poorly and unconvincingly based. For this very reason, however, her expanionist desires in respect of Tunisia, Corsica and Nice are more thieatening to European peace. They constitute a direct challenge to the power of France, and on such an issue as that there is no apparent hope of conciliation, nor any room for argument. The French Government has stated plainly its intention of. yielding nothing, and admitting no claim for negotiation. It remains, for Signor Mussolini either to avoid an open rebuff or to risk plunging the nations into war. So far Germany has shown no intention of proceeding so clumsily, indeed, Herr Hitler has given an assurance that he will not make the issue one of peace or war. Therefore he cannot fail to be awaie that a partnership with the Duce in a drive for colonies must weaken his own carefully-prepared case, and risk an awkward impasse.